Ruffling attachment for pressing irons



May 21, 1957 R. KLEIN 2,792,977

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT -FOR PRESSING i'R'ofis Filed June 14, 1956 2sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. REGINA, KLEIN BY s L May 21, 1957 R. KLEINRUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR PRESSING IRONS- Filed June 14, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. REGINA KLEIN A mm tachments removed.

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR PRESSING IRONS Regina Klein, New York, N. Y.Application June 14, 1956, Serial No. 591,405

(Jlaims. (Cl. 223-36) The present invention relates to a rufilingattachment, in the form of a pair of adjustable arms, adapted forincorporation in the construction of an iron, so as to be extendablelaterally from the iron for the purpose of ironing ruflles, etc.

The ironing of ruflles presents considerable difliculties, when anattempt is made to perform this particular operation with theconventionally shaped and proportioned sole plate of the iron.

Accordingly, one important object of the invention is to provideadjustable, arm-like attachments, which in one position constitute, ineffect, part of the sole plate for conventional use of the iron. Inanother position, said attachments extent laterally from the iron forthe purpose of facilitating the ironing of ruffles, small fabricsurfaces, etc.

A more specific object is to provide a device of the character describedthat will be capable of incorporation in an iron at a relatively lowcost, considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof.

Another object of importance is to provide an iron as described whichwill include, in addition to the ruflling attachment, a transverselyadjustable element at the rear end of the sole plate, shiftablelaterally outwardly from the sole plate for the purpose of ironing otherrelatively small surfaces of garments or other materials.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rufllingattachment for irons which can be adjusted swiftly between operative andinoperative positions thereof, and will be securely held in eachposition to which it is so adjusted.

A further object is to provide a rufiling attachment as stated which,when disposed in its recessed position, will constitute, in effect, partof the sole plate of the iron, with said sole plate under thesecircumstances being of conventional outline to permit regular use of theiron without interference from the attachment.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an iron equipped with rufllingattachments according to the invention, the iron being shown upon anironing board only a fragment of which is shown, the attachments beingshown in recessed and extended positions in full and dotted linesrespectively.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the iron with one of therufflingattachments extended, a sole plate extension being shown in full anddotted lines in recessed and extended positions respectively.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the iron with the atatent C 30 aresimilar concavities 32.

Fig. 4 is a view of the iron substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken longitudinally through theiron with the ruffling attachment removed, on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detail section on line 6-6 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective detail views of the device.

An iron 10 is shown in position in Fig. 1 on an ironing board 12, andincludes a conventionally shaped, hollow body 14 to which is secured aconventional handle 16.

Secured to the underside of body 14 is a sole plate 18 having (Fig. 3),at its front end, elongated side recesses 20. The recesses extend fromthe front of the iron in rearwardly diverging relation, are incommunication with each other at their front or convergent ends, and areoppositely but identically formed to narrowly elliptical shapes.

Formed in the recesses adjacent the rear ends thereof, on thelongitudinal medians of the recesses are shallow concavities 3t andspaced forwardly from the concavities The concavities or depressions 32are disposed adjacent the outer sides of the recesses, at a locationsubstantially medially between the opposite ends of the recesses.

Mounted in the recesses are rufiiing attachments in the form ofelliptically shaped plates 24 which are of a shape and area matchingthose of their associated recesses. Plates 24, at their rear ends, haveopenings receiving connecting pins 26 extending through elongated,arcuate slots 28 formed in sole plate 18. Slots 28 extend along theinner walls of the recesses, from locations adjacent the rearextremities of the recesses to locations disposed substantially mediallybetween the ends of the recesses. The connecting pins have flattenedheads countersunk in the bottom faces of plates 24 to preventinterference with ironing operations.

Referring to Fig. 6, located on the longitudinal medians of the plates24, a short distance forwardly of the pins 26, are spring loaded balldetents 34. These are pressed upwardly above the upper faces of theplates 24 and accordingly when the plates 24 are in their recessedpositions, the ball detents thereof will engage in the depressions 30,to lock the plates 24 in their recessed positions shown in full lines inFig. 1 and shown also in Fig. 2 (the left-hand plate).

To the outer sides of the plates 24, adjacent their forward ends, arefixedly secured upwardly projecting, generally flat handles 36, andintegrally formed upon the upper ends of the handles are outwardly,upwardly projecting extensions 38 adapted to be gripped between thethumb and index finger.

Therefore, when the plates are to be extended for use, one grasps aselected extension 38, and shifts the same outwardly from the iron inthe direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1. The ball detent 34 of theplate will be forced downwardly, and the user then, while swinging theplate outwardly to the position of the right-hand plate shown in Fig. 2,shifts the plate forwardly to advance pin 26 of the forward end of slot23. Ultimately, ball detent 34 engages in depression 32 to locate theplate in its extended position. To recess the plate once again, theoperation is merely reversed.

When the plates are recessed, they become, in effect, part of theironing surface of the sole plate, so that the iron can be used in theregular manner.

The iron can be equipped merely with the milling attachments shown andpreviously described herein. However, if desired the iron can also beequipped with a laterally shiftable sole plate extension 4% provided atthe rear end of the iron and shown to best advantage in Figs. 2 and 4.This extends when in its normal position, the full width of the soleplate, and constitutes in eflect part of the sole plate surface,Medially between its opposite side edges, the extension 40 has openings44 aligned with each other in a direction longitudinally and centrallyof the sole plate. The-openings receive connecting pins 42, theseextending through elongated, parallel, straight slots 4 6 formed in thesole plate and extending from the longitudinal median of the sole plateto locations close toone side thereof as shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted in the extension 40 is a spring-loaded ball detentjlS disposedadjacent one end of the extension, said ball detent being selectivelye'ngageablein depressions 5Q, 52provided in recess ZZof the wall plate.The depressi ns S tLf SZ are aligned with one another along a lineextending parallel to and disposed medially between slots 46. H

yvhen extension lfl is in its normal, recessed position, ball idetent 48;engages in depression 5 0. However, if it is desired to shift theextension laterally outwardly of the iron, an upwardly, outwardlyprojecting handle 54 fixedly secured to the extension 40 is employedtoslidably adjust the extension to its dotted line position in -,2. r ,7

Under these circumstances, pins 42 will travel to the right-hand ends ofslots 46, viewing the same as in Figs. Zand 3. Ultimately, the balldetent will engage in depression 52 tolock the extension 40 in itsextended position. Extension 40 may nowbe used similarly to the extendedrufliing attachments, for the purpose of ironing ruflles orotherrelatively small surfaces such as are found,

for example, 'inyarious pleated garments, r

It is to be understood that this rufiiing attachment may be used eitherdry or steam producing arrangement may also be connected thereto. I

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be madewithin the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus deseribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1 1. In an iron, asole platehaving at least one recess, and an auxiliary plate mounted in saidrecessfor adjustment between a recessed position and'a positionextending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, said recess andauxiliary plate being elongated, the recess extending longitudinally ofthe iron adjacent "one side thereof from the forward extremity of thesole plate to a location intermediate opposite ends of the sole plate,said recess and auxiliaryplate being of narrowly elliptical, matingconfiguration.

2. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one, recess, and anauxiliary plate mountedin said recess for adjustment between a recessedposition and a position extendinglaterally outwardly from the soleplate, the plate includingapin, the -sole plate'having an elongated slotreceiving the pin, for pivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliaryplate to the sole plate, the auxiliary'plate when in its recessedposition being disposed with its pin at one end of the slot, saidauxiliary plate when adjusted toits extended position being extendedsubstantially perpendicularly'to the length of the recess mediallybetween opposite ends of the recess with the pin at the othere'nd of theslot. r I 3. In an item, a sole plate having'at least'one recess, and anauxiliary platernounted in said recess for adjustment betweenareces'sedposition and a position extending laterally outwardly from thesole plate, the plate 'iflehl'tll l a P n h q fi-r sf a ii a elongatedslot recelving the pin, for pivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliaryplate to the sole plate, the auxiliary plate when in its recessedposition being disposed with 'its pin at one end of the slot, saidauxiliary plate when adjusted to its extended position being extendedsubstantially perpendicularly to the length of the recess mediallybetween opposite ends of the recess with the pin at the other end of theslot, the sole plate and auxiliary plate having cooperating,interengaging detent means adapted for releasably holding the auxiliaryplate in both of said positions thereof.

4. In an iron, asole plate'having at least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionand a position extending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, theplate including a pin, the sole plate having an elongated slot receivingthe pin, for pivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliary plate to thesole plate, the auxiliary plate when in its recessed position beingdisposed with its pin at one end of the slot, said auxiliary plate whenadjusted to its extended position being extended substantiallyperpendicularly to the length of the recess medially between oppositeends of the recess with the pin at the other end of the slot, the soleplateand auxiliary plate having cooperating, interengaging detent meansadapted for releasably holding the auxiliary plate in both of saidpositions thereof, said detent means comprising a ball detent ontheauxiliary plate, the sole plate having spaced depressions eachadapted to receive the ball detent, one of said depressions beinglocated to engage the ball detent with the auxiliary plate in recessedposition, the other depression being located for engaging the balldetent with the auxiliary plate in its extended position.

5. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionanda position extending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, theplate including a pin, the sole plate having an elongated slot receivingthe pin, for p ivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliary'plate to thesole plate, the auxiliary plate when in its recessed position beingdisposed with its pin at one end of the slot, said auxiliary plate whenadjusted to its extended position being extended substantiallyperpendicularly to the length of the recess medially between oppositeends of the recess with the pin at the other end of the slot, the soleplateand auxiliary plate having cooperating, interengaging detent meansadapted for releasably holding the auxiliary plate in both of saidpositions thereof, said detent means comprising a ball detent ontheauxiliary plate, the sole plate having spaced depressions each adaptedto receive the ball detent, one of said depressions being located toengage the ball detent with the auxiliary plate in recessed position,the other depression being located for engaging 'the ball detent withthe auxiliary plate in its extended position, the bottom surfaces of the'sole plate and auxiliary plate being 'disposdin a common plane, wherebysaid auxiliaryplate will constitute, in cooperation with the sole plate,an ironing surface when the auxiliary plate is in its recessed position.

6. In an iron, a sole plate having'at'least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in'said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionand a position extending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, theplate including a pin, -thesole plate having an elongated slot receivingthe pin, for pivotally, slidably connectingthe auxiliary plate to thesole plate, the auxiliary'plate when in it's recessed position beingdisposed with its pin at one end of the slot,said auxiliary plate whenadjustedat its extended position being extended substantiallyperpendicularly to i the 'lengtlrof the recess medially between oppositeends of the recess with'th'e pin at the other end of the slot, the solep'late'and auxiliary plate having cooperating, interengaging detent meanadapted for releasably holding the auxiliary plate in bothf of isaidpdsitions thereof, said detent means comprising a "tan detent "onarcane";

the auxiliary plate, the sole plate having spaced depres sions eachadapted to receive the ball detent, one of said depressions beinglocated to engage the ball detent with the auxiliary plate in recessedposition, the other depression being located for engaging the balldetent with the auxiliary plate in its extended position, the bottomsurfaces of the sole plate and auxiliary plate being disposed in acommon plane, whereby said auxiliary plate will constitute, incooperation with the sole plate, an ironing surface when the auxiliaryplate is in its recessed position, said auxiliary plate, when in itsrecessed position, having an outer side edge in registration with thecorresponding side of the sole plate.

7. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionand a position extending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, theplate including a pin, the sole plate having an elongated slot receivingthe pin, for pivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliary plate to thesole plate, the auxiliary plate when in its recessed position beingdisposed with its pin at one end of the slot, said auxiliary plate whenadjusted to its extended position being extended substantiallyperpendicularly to the length of the recess medially between oppositeends of the recess with the pin at the other end of the slot, the soleplate and auxiliary plate having cooperating, interengaging detent meansadapted for releasably holding the auxiliary plate in both of saidpositions thereof, said detent means comprising a ball detent on theauxiliary plate, the sole plate having spaced depressions each adaptedto receive the ball detent, one of said depressions being located toengage the ball detent with the auxiliary plate in recessed position,the other depression being located for engaging the ball detent with theauxiliary plate in its extended position, the bottom surfaces of thesole plate and auxiliary plate being disposed in a common plane, wherebysaid auxiliary plate will constitute, in cooperation with the soleplate, an ironing surface when the auxiliary plate is in its recessedposition, said auxiliary plate, when in its recessed position, having anouter side edge in registration with the corresponding side of the soleplate, the auxiliary plate including an upwardly projecting handle meansfor shifting the same between the recessed and extended positionsthereof.

8. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionand a position extending laterally outwardly from the sole plate, theplate including a pin, the sole plate having an elongated slot receivingthe pin, for pivotally, slidably connecting the auxiliary plate to thesole plate, the auxiliary plate when in its recessed position beingdisposed with its pin at one end of the slot, said auxiliary plate whenadjusted to its extended position being extended substantiallyperpendicularly to the length of the recess medially between oppositeends of the recess with the pin at the other end of the slot, the soleplate and auxiliary plate having cooperating, interengaging detent meansadapted for releasably holding the auxiliary plate in both of saidpositions thereof, said detent means comprising a ball detent on theauxiliary plate, the sole plate having spaced depressions each adaptedto receive the ball detent, one of said depressions being located toengage the ball detent with the auxiliary plate in recessed position,the other depression being located for engaging the ball detent with theauxiliary plate in its extended position, the bottom surfaces of thesole plate and auxiliary plate being disposed in a common plane, wherebysaid auxiliary plate will constitute, in cooperation with the soleplate, an ironing surface when the auxiliary plate is in its recessedposition, said auxiliary plate, when in its recessed position, having anouter side edge in registration with the corresponding side of the soleplate, the auxiliary plate including an upwardly projecting handle meansfor shifting the same between the recessed and extended positionsthereof, said handle means comprising an upwardly, outwardly projectingplate-like handle element rigid with the auxiliary plate.

9. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one recess, and an auxiliaryplate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessed positionand a position extending laterally outwardlyfrom the sole plate, saidauxiliary plate being slid-able in a straight path between the recessedand extended positions thereof, said path extending normally to thelongitudinal center line of the sole plate, the auxiliary plate havingspaced pins, said sole plate having straight, parallel slots receivingsaid pins for limiting adjustment of the auxiliary plate between saidpositions thereof.

10. In an iron, a sole plate having at least one recess, and anauxiliary plate mounted in said recess for adjustment between a recessedposition and a position extending laterally outwardly from the soleplate, said auxiliary plate being slidable in a straight path betweenthe recessed and extended positions thereof, said path extendingnormally to the longitudinal center line of the sole plate, theauxiliary plate having spaced pins, said sole plate having straight,parallel slots receiving said pins for limiting adjustment of theauxiliary plate between said positions thereof, the auxiliary plateincluding a springloaded ball detent, said sole plate having spaceddepressions one engaging the ball detent in the recessed position of theauxiliary plate, and the other engaging the ball detent in the extendedposition of the auxiliary plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,624,136 Wilson Ian. 6, 1953

